Automatically controlled floating mine.



L. A BOCKSTAHLER.

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED FLOATING MINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1915- Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES:

A TTORNE Y L. A BOCKSTAHLER. AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED FLOATING MINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.2| I915- Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. INVENZOR.

WITNESSES "f Q ATTORNEYS/ L. A. BOCKSTAHLER.

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED FLOATING MINE. APPLICATION FILED .IAN.2, 1915.

1,221,964; Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a I MIN i X \x IN VEN TOR.

- ATTORNEYS.

To all whom it may concern:

OFFICE. A

tours ma'ocxsranrmm or naxniwoon, onro.

auroisancaflar con'rnonmb rnoa'rma MINE.

Specification of Letters l atent.

Application filed January 2, 1915. se'mi m. as.

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. Boon- STAHLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident ?of Lakewood, ;in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Automaticallly-Controlled Floating Mines, of which I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact-description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide a self propelled, and automatically controlled floating mine or torpedo which 1s capable of attaining the following enumerated capabilities.

The several features of novelty and improvement comprise,

First: The employment of automatically acting stabilizers which tend to maintain the direction of the course of the mine as it passes through the water constant after it has been first established by the operator.

Second, the employment of instrumentalities for automatically changing the direction of the course. of the mine when a predeit while taking termined distance in a straight'line has been traversed, so as to cause the mine to circle about its target and give it an opportunity to strike the target, in case it has passed by nism therefor; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the explosive chamber; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stabilizer operating device, which changes the course of the device; Fi s. 5 and 6 show details of the cover for t e air inlet opening; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the exhaust. pipe "from the engine; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the vertical movement of the device through the water; Fig. 9 is a diathe direct course, thusgram showing method of travel toward a Figs. 10, 11,'and 12 illustrate the 1 target. I actlon of a force on the stabilizers when applied to the stern, broadside and to the bow of'the device respectively; Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating the action of the timing device in opening the electric circuit which ignites the explosive.

In these drawings A is a metal shell forming an inclosed hull, so shaped as to provide for the greatest amount of buoyancy com-' patrble with lines adapted to rmit the greatest freedom of movement 0 the device over and under the water and the maximum amount of speed. I

The device as shown in the drawin s is provided with a powerful motor B w ich may be an explosive engine or any other suitable source of power, which operates a propeller shaft B and propeller The propellershaft is also employed as a source of power for other purposes among them'the control of means for obtaining vertlcal adjustment of the device in thewater and for operating the means for altering the direction of movement of the device at a predetermined time or distance, as will be hereinafter further described.

In connection with the explosion engine shown B is the gasolene tank, B the start ing lever and B is the exhaust pipe.

A floating valve V normally closes'the opening. See Fig. 7.

This pipe is preferably positioned in the wake of the vessel, closely adjoining the propeller B to take advantage of the partial vacuum caused under water by the move ment of the propeller. At B is shown an .upwardly and downwardly extending pipe through which air can be supplied at frequent intervals, to the interior of the hull whenever the vessel rises to the surface so as to furnish oxygen to the engine when an explosion engine is employed as a motor.

The forward end of the pipe must. turn downward at B and a floating valve B I may be used to close the opening automatically when the vessel-descends underneath K i 105 quire a supply of oxygen, as when electric 3 the water. When the motor does not re-i ity is employed as a motive power, a plate B can be employed to close the opening B in lieu of the pipe mentioned.

An important feature of the invention consists in the employment of automatically acting means for maintaining a direct course Patented Apr. 10, 1am. I

duringa redetermined ment of t e vessel.

This means preferably comprises pivoted and weighted lovers 0 and G which are 0 period ofthe moveerativelyconnected with the tiller arm sponding segment upon the tiller arm C and thelever C operates the tiller arm 0 by means of an intermediate gear or idler C", since the direction of movement of the bow rudder C is the reverse of the stern rudder C.

These weighted levers serve as stabilizers to preserve unchanged the direction of the vessel and only operate when force is suddenly exerted (such as the force of a wave) against one end such as the bow or stern, or against both ends simultaneously, and which without the use of the stabilizer would tend to throw the vessel out of her course.

The operation is illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 and may be'described as follows:

When the vessel is subjected to a sudden shock from one side or the other, the boat will swing to accommodate the direction from which the blow may come, but the stabilizing levers will tend to remain sta tionary at their outer ends owing to their inertia, and beingpivoted at their other ends will operate the mechanism connecting them with the respective rudders which guide the vessel.

This action is shown in Fig. .10 when a force represented by the arrow strikes broadside of the vessel. It is obvious that the 'bow rudder will turn to the right and the stern rudder to the left, one rudder thus counteracting the effect of the other, which action has a tendency to push the boat against the action of the force.

In Fig. 11 the force is represented as applied to the stern only and on the starboard side hence the stern rudder is placed in position to prevent the stern of the boat from being swung toport.

In Fig. 12 the force is represented as applied to thestarboard side of the bow, and hence the rudder will turn to prevent the bow from being forced to port. Opposed series of springs C C" return the stabilizers to their central and normal positions. The stabilizer C must be heavier than the stabilize-r C since it has a movement reverse to thatof the tiller arm, and must therefore counteract the'weight of the tiller in addition to its own movement.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 9, an important feature of the invention is found in means for altering the direct or linear course of the vessel to a circular one at a predetermined distance from the starting point.

This means permits the vessel to be aimed at a target such as a passing steamer or dreadnaught'going at a predetermined rate of speed and at a computed distance from the startin point of the floating mine, and

fine direction of movement of the to changev p mine to follow the target in case 1t should miss the same, thus providing addltional opportunity for hitting it.

The mechanism is preferably operated by v the motor shaft and as shown a'worm wheel- D is rotated at a very slow rate of speed by means of the worm D, shaft. D ,'the worm wheel D on a shaft D and a second worm D and worm wheel D and a worm D" upon over which and over guide pulleys D, D"

the ropes D D are connected with the stabilizers C and O. The'cam D is adjustable by means of a bolt D and spaced holes D" in the worm wheel D.

When the shaft .D is released the stabilizers are pulled in opposite directions so as to bring the rudders to turn atan angle to each other so as to make the course of the vessel describe a circle of predetermined radius. The radius can be determined by means of a wheel E provided with a circular series of openings E therein, in which a pin E can be selectively set. This pin, as the wheel r0tates,'will strike against astop E and limit the movement thereby limiting the movement of the rudders and their angular positions. I Hence the circle, of the course can be made small or large as desired and'deemed most likely to reach a moving object. a v

The adjustment of the cam D controls the moment when the direction of the course of the vessel is changed, and the distance that the vessel travels in a direct line beforethe change takes place.

As shown in Fig. 9 the vessel A will take the direct course X from the shore until it reaches the path of the moving object. If it misses the object it will then take a circular course and will still have a chance of hitting the object.

- As shown the intervening island Z will not present any obstruction to the path of the,

floating mine, if it is desired to strike the object at a point behind the island. Thus making it impossible for an enemys ship to hide behind apparently inaccessible points.

A continuous rising and. falling movement the surface.

is given the vessel to prevent it from floating upon the surface which. would make it an 1 accessible target to others, and from diving too deep into the water in which case it.

would pass under its target.

This movement is exemplified by the fol- :lipwing instrumentalities, illustrated in Here F is a shaft operatively connected When the vessel is atthe surface, as shown in Fig. 8 the float will fall and the shaft will be disconnected from the segment and the vanes will be directed downwardly by means of a spring F shown in Fig. 1, con-.

nected with the segment. When the vessel becomes immersed in the water the float will rise and engage the worm and shaft and the segment will move to reverse the'position of the vanes, and brin the vessel gradually to In t 's manner the vertical movements continue without stopping and are limited in duration.

An explosive mixture R is .inclosed in a chamber S in the bow of the vessel and is ignited-in any desirable manner.

As shown a circuit 0 from a batteryT is closed at the terminals V, v when a plunger W having a contact U t ereon is struck by any object in the path of the vessel.

The closing of the circuit ignites the explosive. To prevent the mine from slipping" by any object without igniting the explosive if struck a glancing blow, side rods H, H, are employed, connected with the plunger,

and bell cranks I, I, pivoted at the sides of the vessel operate the rods to move the struck.

If the vessel should be struck upon th upper surface of the bow a rod K operatively connected with the plunger will cause the ignition of the explosive if the rod is struck.

Clock controlled mechanism is employed which opens the electric circuit at a predetermined time to prevent the floating mine from becoming a menace to navigat on.

'In illustration of the action mentioned a tiller which makes electric contactwith a se ent T and closes the battery circuit 0' uring clock T is shown having an hour hand a predetermined number of hours but the circuit will be open when the hand T crosses the gap in the segment.

' A stop T prevents the further movement of the hand and the mine becomes harmless.

Having described the invention what -I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In combination with the hull ofa vessel, and steering rudders at the bow and stern thereof, of pivoted devices in said hull and operatively connected with said rudders,

said pivoted devices cooperating by their inertia to prevent displacement of the bow and stern of the vessel when subjectedto sudden lateral shock.

2.. In combination with the hull of a vessel and coiiperating'bow and stern rudders therefor, of horizontally swinging stabiliz ers operatively connected with said rudders.

3. In combination with the hull of a ves sel and cooperating bow and stem rudders therefor, of horizontally swinging stabilizer levers, said levers weighted atftheir outer ends and operatively'connected with said rudders. v

4 4. In combination with the hull of .a vessel, and rudders pivoted respectively at the bow and stern thereof, of horizontally swinging stabilizing levers having weighted outer extremities, and pivoted in said hull, and gear connections between said stabilizers and their respective rudders.

5. In a dingible vessel, in combination, a hull, bow and stern rudders therefor, a tiller arm for'each rudder, each arm having a gear segment thereon, a horizontally swinging stabilizer having a segmental geared edge and engaging with the gear segment upon saidstern tiller arm, a similar horizontally swinging stabilizer for the said bow rudder, and an idler operativelyconnecting said how and stabilizer, said stabilizers weighted, and the bow stabilizer additionzontally moving stabilizers therefor, of

means for propelling the vessel at a predetermined rate of speed, and means for automatically moving said stabilizers to change after a predetermined distance has been traversed by said-vessel, said means for mov-- ing said stabilizers operatively connected with said propelling means. I

- 7 The combination with the hull of a vessel and bow and stern rudders therefor, of

stabilizing devices operatively connected with said rudders to normally retain the course of the vessel in a straight line, and

the direction of movement of said vessel [8. The combination lQWith the hull of- ,a vessel, stern. and bow rudders, and" stabiliz-' ing devices therefor, operativelyw eonnected change the course of the vessel, and means for automatically and operatively connect- .operating 1 device, tion of said vessel. a

1' 9. In combination with the hull of a vess sel, bow and stern rudders therefor, s tabiliz- "ers for-controlling the movements of said rudders, and a propeller shaft, of a shaft parallel thereto, a loose disk thereon, means automatically acting means for moving said stabilizers to deflect said vesselj cfrom her therewith, and a sollrce of power, of a de-- vice for operating said stabilizers jointly to he Said Source of P w r with said stabilizer at a predetermined po i for-rotating said loose disk at a low rate of speed, said means operatively connected ,.change the course of the vessel when said shaft is released, substantially as described. In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 24th day of December 1914.

LOUIS A. Boo s aHLER.

In presence of RALPH W. JEREMIAH, WM. M, Mormon. 

